Tilting and shiftable slatted closure device



March 18, 1958 G. M. GRAHAM TILTING AND SHIFTABLE SLATTED CLOSURE DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 25, 1955 March 18, 1958 G. M.V GRAHAM TILTING AND SHIF'TABLE SLATTED CLOSURE DEVICE Filed July 25. 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 JNVENTOR. GEORGE M. GRAHAM BY gvwm. CD74 March 18, 1958 G. M. GRAHAM TILTING AND SHIFTABLE SLATTED CLOSURE DEVICE l3 sheets-sheet 3 Filed July 25, 1.955v

INVENTOR.

Geoacse M. GRAHAM lF nite f-l TILTING AND SHE? TABLE SLATTED CLOSURE DEVICE This invention relates to an improvement in closure devices and has particular reference to a closure device wherein a plurality of vertically disposed slats are supported within a frame in a manner whereby the slats may be shifted upon their axes to a close overlapping position and with the slats being in groups whereby the groups are simultaneously shittable toward the opposite ends of the frame in a manner to substantially expose the major openings of the frame.

The invention embodies upper and lower parallel header and sill sections that are connected by parallel jamb sections and with the several sections constituting a rigid -frame that is supported in a wall opening whereby the several slats serve to control the entry'of light and air.

VAnother object of the invention resides in upper and lower header and sill sections that are slotted throughout their lengths whereby to support slat mounting elements and withY the elements constituting both pivotal land sliding supports for the several slats.

The invention further contemplates novel actuating means whereby the several slats are simultaneously rotatable to overlapping closure position and additional means connected with the several mounting means whereby the groups of slats arecontrollable from a single endless cable in a manner to shift Vthe groups of slats toward or from the opposite sides of theframe.

Novel features of construction and peration of the device will be more clearly apparent during the course of the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein has been illustrated a prefered form of the device" and wherein ylike characters ofreference are employed to denote like parts throughout the several gures, Y

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of a frame and a plurality ofpivotally supported and shiftable slats constructed in accordance with the invention,

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical `section taken substantially on line 2 2 of Figure l,

Figure 3 is a horizontal section through a header device of the frame, taken substantially on line 3 3 of Figure l,

Figure 4 is a horizontal section through a lower sill member, taken substantially on line 4 4 of Figure l,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary horizontal section takken substantially on line 5 5 of Figure 1,

Figure 6 is a section taken on line o o of Figure 5,

Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of a closure slat and its associated upper and lower pivotal and slidable mountings,

Figure V8 is Va perspective view illustrating an endless cable for the slidableshiting movement of the separate groups of slats.

In the drawings, the numeral 5 designates a tubular and preferably metallic header and 6 designates a lower tubular and'pref'erably metallic sill member. The header 5 `an'd the ,sill are rigidly connected 'by tubular jainb i arent O 2,827,113 VPatented Mar. 18, 1958 members, and with the jamb members being connected to the header and sill in any well known and desirable manner. The several members 5, 6 and 7 constitute a rigid open frame that is disposed in a wall opening to either constitute a single closure device or to constitute a closure device that may be disposed adjacent a conventional window structure. It is contemplated that the frame shall be constructed in various sizes in accordance with the recognized standard wall openings and may be varied in height in accordance with the degree of protective coverage desired with respect to a previously installed window structure. It is further contemplated that the device shall be substituted for the conventional Venetian blind.

The header 5 is slotted upon its under face as indicated at 8 for the slidable reception of a plurality of slides 9 that constitute the upper mounting means for the slats, to be described. The slides g are grooved upon their opposite edges as at il) whereby to receive the opposite margin edges of the groove S. The slides 9 are each provided with a depending cylindrical boss that is provided with an axial cylindrical opening for the pivotal support of a cylindrical stud 12 formed upon a U- shaped clip i3 carried by the upper end of the slats i4. The clips i3 are adapted to have a frictional engagement with the upper ends of the slats. The several slides 9, see particularly Figure 3, are preferably arranged in groups of equal number and with the outermost slides 9 being held against shifting movement by suitable wings i5 that are attached to the upper' surface of the lower wall portion of the header 5 by screws i5. rhe slats are arranged in two groups and the innermost slats of each group are connected to controlled slides 9a for a purpose to be presently described. Rlgidly connected at one end ol the header 5, as by brackets i7, are a pair or grooved pulleys l and with the pulleys i3 being positioned to overlie the opening of the adjacent jamb 7. At its opposite end, the header is provided with a single grooved pulley 19, supported with respect to the header by bracket arms 2G. Each of the slides la upon their upper surface are provided with suitable clip connectors 2l for connection with an endless lexible cable 22. The several slides 9, 9 and 9a of each group are connected together by flexible cables or chains 9C of equal length and whereby the several slides are equidistantly spaced when in the covering position, yet will permit the several slides and their associated slats to be closely accumulate at opposite sides or the frame.

The upper wall .3- of the sill e is slotted throughout its length as at 24 for the rotatable and sliding reception of a plurality of lower mounting elements Each of the elements Z5 are cylindrical and circumferentially grooved as at 26 for slidable and rotatable support upon the marginal areas of the slot 24. The elements include upper and lower disc-like members 27 and 2g that overlie and underlie the wall 23. The members 2S are each provided with oppositely extending arms a9 that are provided at their outer ends with connectors 3l) for connecting engagement with tlexiblelcables or chains 3l and through the medium of which the several members 2.5 of each group are rotatable upon their vertical axis. Each of the members 27 are provided with centrally arranged upstanding cylindrical bosses 32 that are axially apertured to form non-cylindrical recesses 33 for the reception of non-cylindrical studs 34 formed upon U-shaped clips 35 that engage frictionally with the lower end portions of the slats l. The outermost members 25 are anchored against sliding engagement by collars 36 having oppositely extending wings 37 that are screwed or otherwise attached tothe upper surface of the wall 23 and in a position to be 4 :o-axial'witl1 the slides 9. The spracing of each of the members 25 are such as to dispose Y slats will be supported in a perpendicular manner.

for the reception of an endless flexible cableA and wherebyethe cable 39 may be actuated by a pair o f cords 40 that'are Yconnected'toone flight ot thecable and that extend through openings formed inthe forward wall of the sill 6 and through the medium of `which the cable 39 may be shifted in oppositeV directions. Thecable 39 when shifted under the inlluence of the cords 40, imparts rotation to the outer membersii and through the medi um of the arms V2.9", causes the several members 25 in both groups to rotate upon their vertical axes to Yshift the slatsld'up'ontheir vertical axes to and ironia point of overlapping engagement and whereby thetseveral slats maybe simultaneously controlled to any degree of closure. f t

' vlotativelysupported at one end of the sill 5 and substantially underlying the pulleys i8, are a pair of grooved pulleys` di while at the opposite end of the sill 6 is rotatably' supported a grooved pulley 4Z. The cableV 22 as before stated is endless and is trained over the several pulleys t8, l2', i and 42 thus establishing a continuous cable that traverses both the header 5 and the sill 6 and passing upwardly through one jamb '7. One flight 22a within the header V5 and one flight 22b'in Vthe sill are Vconnected to one slide 9a and one control element 25a. The other iiight 22C within the header 5 is connected to the other slide 9a, while Ythe flight 22d within 4the sill is connected to the other control element 25a.

- The vertical flights of the cable 22 traversing the jamb 7, are provided with pull cords43, passing through anV opening in the forward wall of Ythe'jarnb, where their terminal ends are provided with knobs. Thus, the cords 43 provide a means whereby the cable may be easily shifted in either direction tor extending the slats to a covering position or'to accumulate the slats of each group at the Y It will thus-be apparent, thata very novel arrangement of closure slats has been provided whereby the several slats of each group may be tilted on their vertical axis or when desired, the groups or slats may be easily shifted to be accumulated at the sides of the frame. The novel supporting means, including the upper slides 9 and the lower elements 25 greatly facilitate the Vmounting and operative engagement within slots formed in preferablyV extruded metal frame members and greatly simplifies the assembly ofthe several parts with the frame members prior to `assembly of the frame members. While the frame members have becn'sliownas being tubula'rLit will v be apparent'that they could be of channel formation, thus grec of angularity by pulling upon either of the cords 46. e'

lt will be clearlyi apparenh'that the extending movement of the slats to covering position will be limited by the nonlsliding membersii and the non-sliding elements and the connecting cables 9C and 3l.

In the use of the device, `the several slides 9,79 and E of the sill.

device or as a light `and air control means in combination Y with a conventional window. The operator then, by pulling Vupon a selected cord 4i/causes all of the slats in each group to be extended across the frame opening in equidistantly spaced relation, with each group moving in opposed reiationiunder the inliuence ofithe cable 22. With the several slats'then being extended, a pull uponeither f of the cords 49, causes Vthe several slats of both groups to be'tilted to a desired angularity by the cable 31 and ,inthe Vmaximum tilting, lthe slats are overlapping to sub- Y stantially close the irme opening. e When the groups are Vto be a"cumulated at the opposite sides'of the frame, the

selected cord 4d is then pulled to canse the several 4slats to pivot to their full open position, after which a pullV upon a selected cordV 43, causes each group tolbe retracted or accumulated toward each side o' the frame. The slats opening and with the slats `being provided with studsV further simplifying the attachment of the cables with their respective operators. The structure is such that it may be manufactured and sold in knockdown forni for assettii bly by the user. The several operators, including the slides 9 and the members 2S may befortned substantially identical and the attaching means for the slides 9.a and the cable pulleys'for thernembers 25 attached` iii :any convenient manner, thus greatlyV simplifying the maritt-V facture ofthe parts. i Y n A llt is to be understood, that while a preferred form of the device has been illustrated and described, changes are contemplated as readily fall within the spirit'of the in; vention as shall be determined by the scope of the subjoined claims. r Y

Having described my invention, what l claim as new and desire to secure byrLetters Patent is:

Y l. A slatted closureV device'that includes a rigid open frame having a header, a sill and connecting jambs, the members of the frame being tubular and with the header and the `sill having at opposed faces that are longitudinally and centrally slottedY for their full length, Va

plurality of slide devices engaged with theV slot A; of the header and a plurality of slide devices engaged ,with the slot of the sill, the several slide devices of the header andY sill being co-axial, the outermost slide kdevicesof the header and the sill being anchored against sliding movef ment, sockets formed inthe upper slide devices and sockets formed in the'lower slide devices, arplur'ality of vertically arranged closure slatsV disposed within the frame at theirV oppositeiends for engagement with the sockets of the upper and lower slides, the upper studs being Yrotatable in the sockets of the upper slides andnonrotatablewith respect tothe sockets of the lower slides, the lower slidesV being rotatable Vin the slot for imparting a tilting movement to the slats, the slats andtheir slide devices being arranged in two groups, the anchored slide devices Lof the sill'being provided with a pulleyV i and an endless belt engagingV the pulleys whereby the anchored'slides adjacent each `jamb are simultaneously rotated, exible connecting means between thelower` slides vof each groupwherelz'yV the slats ofteach group are identically tilted when the Vanchored slides are rotated, t flexible connecting means between the slides of the upper 'Y a groups, the said exible connecting means limiting the extending movement of they Vslats within the frame to an Vequidistantly spaced relation, an endless cable traversingY Y the header, the sill and one jamb, means for connecting mayV be easily and quicklyinstalled or removed from their Y i respective upper'and lower pivotal supports, by merely lifting the slat upwardly to 4disengage the lower stud 34, after which the slat can/be'swun'g outwardly and the upper stud lzrdisengaged from itsrrespectiv'eV socket'.V This assembly Vmethod of the slatsV hasY been disclosed in'my Y UnitedV States Patent No' Y2,700,803, issued February 1,

the cable to theinnermost slides of each group whereby actuation of the cable inV one direction causes the several slides in each group and their respective slats to accu'mu-VY e late at opposite sides of the frame opening the vsaid cable when Vactivated inthe opposite direction causingy theY groups Yto shift, in opposed relation for shifting the groups of slatsV to a coveringfposition in the frame.

:2. The structure as recitedV in claimY l, wherein theY f slats are individually removable from their respective throughouttheirV length, a plurality of vertically 'arranged slats disposed within the frame in parallel relation, pivoted supports for the upper and lower ends of each slat and with certain of the supports being Slideable in the slots, means associated with the lower pivoted supports whereby all of the slats may be simultaneously tilted to a maximum position of overlapping engagement, the slats being divided into two groups, an endless cable that traverses the header, the sill and one jamb and with the cable being connected to the upper and lower pivotal supports of an innermost slat of each group, means whereby the cable may be manually shifted to cause the slats of each group to be simultaneously accumulated at the sides of the frame opening and means between the slides of each group whereby the slats are equidistantly spaced within the opening when the cable is reversed to move the slats to a covering position in the 6 frame, one upper and one lower pivotal support of each group being xed against sliding, and a common endless belt between the non-sliding lower pivotal supports whereby the several slats in each group are simultaneously tilted.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,708,636 Shook Apr. 9, 1926 2,135,647 Streby Nov. 8, 1938 2,158,454 Zubiria May 16, 1939 2,587,859 King Mar. 4, 1952 2,591,775 Bopp et al. Apr. 8, 1952 2,604,158 Carpenter et al. July 22, 1952 2,700,803 Graham Feb. 1, 1955 

